‘Heroes get remembered…’
A memorial fund helps preserve the legacy of Jesse Freiburger through improvements to his childhood baseball park.
Jesse Freiburger grew up in Bellevue, Iowa, where his childhood home sat directly across from the local ballpark that served as the neighborhood's beloved sandlot. As a young boy, he spent countless summer days playing baseball with friends and learning the value of his community.
After dedicating his career to teaching and serving as a principal, Jesse's life was cut tragically short in 2023 when he lost his battle with stomach cancer. Now, his wife, Heather, and children, Landen, Hayden, and Mason, are ensuring his legacy lives on in the same neighborhood park where his love for community first took root.
His family members have used funds granted out by the Jesse Freiburger Memorial Fund, a fund established with the Community Foundation, to install a water fountain and new play features at the park across the street from his childhood home in Bellevue.
A commemorative sign on the water fountain bears a fitting tribute, a quote from the film "The Sandlot": "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." These words, visible to all who gather at the park, perfectly capture how Jesse's influence on students, colleagues and his community will endure for generations to come.
"It's such a privilege working with families like Jesse's to make a lasting, positive difference in their community," says Missy Lipska, director of philanthropy at the Community Foundation. "A memorial fund is a wonderful way to ensure that a person's impact isn't only felt in their lifetime. It can live on forever and be their legacy to their community."